U.S. House Candidates: 2 Democrats vying for nod

New congressional district wide open

Related Stories

Playing second fiddle to a crowded GOP primary, two Democrats are seeking to be their party’s candidate for the newly-drawn 6th Congressional District.

The bigger name in the race is 43-year-old Heather Beaven, executive director of the Florida Endowment Foundation for Florida’s Graduates, an education-related non-profit. She ran for Congress against incumbent Republican John Mica in 2010, already brought in $122,937 and has poured $96,056 into the race.

“Money is not a concern to me. Enough money is there to get our message out, and we have,” he said.

Verma, 25, says one of his priorities is encourage companies with investments overseas to bring that money back and invest it into areas like technology.

“We are not going to be able to compete in, say, the plastic cup industry because other countries have price controls and slave labor,” he said. “The high-tech sector is where we should focus. That is the wave of the future.”

Verma said he wants to give a one-year window where companies can bring foreign investments back without penalty.

Beaven, who declined to be interviewed, lists her top priorities on a campaign questionnaire as moving the country into the new economy.

“I will be a loud and passionate voice for a serious plan to position America as a global leader in a new economy,” wrote Beaven, a Navy veteran. “Imagine what a flurry of forward- thinking, affordable initiatives would do if we passed them today.”

The winner faces an uphill battle after the primary. The heavily Republican district voted for Republican Gov. Rick Scott by 13 percentage points in 2010.

“When they look at my economic plan of cutting taxes, corporate tax reform, and trying to close loopholes for big business, I think it will resonate,” Verma said.

He also dinged Beaven for Times-Union stories that reported state Sens. Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, and Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, used their position to help Beaven’s organization. Both sit on the group’s board.

The two created a fictional program at Florida A&M that they used to funnel nearly $3 million in state funds to Beaven’s group. They also ran failed legislation to up the state’s alcohol tax with the increased revenue — roughly $45 million — going to Beaven’s organization.

“She is trying to increase Florida taxes to fund her own organization,” Verma said. “People don’t like that.”